Top 15 Shooting Guards in the NBA at the Halfway Point

Nearly halfway through the NBA season, who are some of the best shooting guards in the league and how have they lived up to preseason expectations? Note: Zach Lavine and Tim Hardaway Jr. will not be on the list due to missing significant time so far this season.

Honorable Mentions:

Kent Bazemore

Caris LeVert

Eric Gordon

J.J. Redick

Jeremy Lamb

15. Evan Fournier – Orlando Magic

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After officially becoming the shooting guard for the future in Orlando last season as a result the Victor Oladipo trade, Fournier has proven himself to be a solid starter for the Magic. Though still having some struggles on the defensive end, Fournier has the potential to be a 20 point scorer as scoring and shooting are clearly his best attributes.

Previous Ranking: Honorable Mention

14. Avery Bradley – Detroit Pistons

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After a career year in Boston last season, Bradley has gotten off to a bit of a slow start individually in Detroit. Despite his low scoring and rebounding numbers, it’s clear the former Texas guard has made an impact with his new team. After missing the playoffs last year the Pistons are now sitting in the middle of the East and could possibly end up challenging for a home playoff spot. An offensive facet Bradley has been great in is his 3-pt shooting, where he’s posting a 41% clip from deep, 4 percentage points up from his career average.

Previous Ranking: 7

13. Jaylen Brown – Boston Celtics

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Brown has played both the shooting guard and small forward positions for Boston so far this year and has excelled. After an underwhelming but promising rookie season, the California product is putting up over 14 points a game while shooting about 40% from deep. Paired with star point guard Kyrie Irving in the backcourt, Brown provides the Celtics with versatile defense, athleticism, and floor spacing for it’s stars.

Previous Ranking: Not Ranked

12. Tyreke Evans – Memphis Grizzlies

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After a chaos-filled previous year for Evans, he’s returned to his college city of Memphis and is thriving with the Grizzlies. The 28-year old is putting up nearly 20 points a game and has again made it clear his ability to distribute and make plays for his teammates. Despite a rare down year for the Griz, it’s obvious the signing of Evans was a steal for Memphis in the offseason.

Previous Ranking: Not Ranked

11. Gary Harris – Denver Nuggets

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Though there’s been a slight drop in shooting percentages for Harris to start the season, he’s been more productive offensively and improved his defense greatly. Currently averaging nearly two steals a game, the Michigan product is starting to clean up a part of his game that needed work. Providing almost elite scoring ability to a deep Nuggets team with a facilitating big man in Jokic, Gary Harris is paired up with young PG Jamal Murray which could become one of the best backcourts in the NBA in the coming seasons.

Previous Ranking: 14

10. Donovan Mitchell – Utah Jazz

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Currently having one of the best rookie seasons we’ve seen in the past few years, Mitchell is already Utah’s go-to guy on offense and seems to be improving game by game. While big man Rudy Gobert continues to be sidelined for the Jazz, Mitchell is lighting it up, Currently averaging around 18 points a game while shooting some solid rookie percentages. Where the former Louisville guard is separating himself from other top rookies is on the defensive end. He’s quietly been a very good on-ball defender which was expected coming into the league due to his wingspan and athleticism, but he’s much farther along on that end than most would be in their rookie years. If he keeps this up without hitting a rookie wall, Mitchell can make an argument for ROTY.

Previous Ranking: Not Ranked

9. Lou Williams – Los Angeles Clippers

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Due to nagging injuries to Blake Griffin and suspicion about DeAndre Jordan’s future in LA, Lou Williams has emerged as the team’s most consistent player so far this season. After going from team to team the last few years the former Sixth Man of the Year is enjoying one of the best seasons of his career, averaging nearly 22 points a game. After the Chris Paul deal in the summer, Los Angeles was without a star in the backcourt and was not assumed to be as strong as year’s past, but Williams has stepped in and been fantastic off the bench for the Clippers. If LA continues to win some could even argue Sweet Lou deserves a spot in the All-Star game.

Previous Ranking: Not Ranked

8. C.J. McCollum – Portland Trail Blazers

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Paired with star PG Damian Lillard in the backcourt, McCollum is having another good season with the Blazers. Though his scoring numbers are slightly down, he’s still shooting solid percentages and has cemented himself as a perennial top shooting guard. After being quietly thrown around in trade rumors last year, McCollum is currently helping Portland stay around .500 and will likely finish the season with his 3rd straight 20pt season.

Previous Ranking: 5

7. Bradley Beal – Washington Wizards

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Beal is again having a great scoring season alongside John Wall in the backcourt. Currently enjoying his second straight 20pt season, the former Florida guard is a prototypical scorer, being able to shoot and slash at a high level. Shot selection and a bit of a better 3-pt percentage would turn Beal into an All-Star, but he’s clearly one of the best guys at the 2 in the NBA.

Previous Ranking: 6

6. Devin Booker – Phoenix Suns

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Booker has continued to improve offensively as his young career goes on, currently putting up around 25 a game for the Suns. Though defense and leadership are still problems for Booker, he’s clearly shown he can score and make plays with the best the league has to offer. After the Eric Bledsoe trade earlier in the season, it became clear who Phoenix was handing the keys to the franchise to. With size, confidence, and one of the best jumpers in the league, you can expect to see D-Book in the All-Star game soon.

Previous Ranking: 10

5. Victor Oladipo – Indiana Pacers

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After being dealt to Indiana in the Paul George trade, Oladipo is back in his college state and having a career year. A short, one year stint in OKC with Russell Westbrook last season seems to have had an effect on him and he now finds himself as one of the top scorers in the league. Having already been a fantastic athlete coming into the NBA, Oladipo has now channeled his raw talent into an innate slashing ability and has also improved his jumpshot. With Dipo locked up for a few years contract wise, it’s safe to say the Pacers won their offseason trade.

Previous Ranking: Honorable Mention

4. Jimmy Butler – Minnesota Timberwolves

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After being traded to the Wolves on draft night, it’s taken a while for Butler to become acclimated to the Minnesota offense, but he seems to have found his groove over the past few weeks. Still a lockdown perimeter defender, the former second round pick has been just what the Timberwolves need to surround their young core and move forward to the postseason. Where Tom Thibodeau may need to watch it is his starters minutes. Butler is averaging around 37 minutes a game and other starters on the team are playing significant minutes as well. In order to be ready for playoff time come spring, Minnesota may need to think about resting their stars from time to time.

Previous Ranking: 4

3. Klay Thompson – Golden State Warriors

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Having another All-Star caliber season on both ends, Thompson comes in at #3 on the list. Where Klay separated himself from Butler was his efficiency on the offensive end. While staying the great defender he’s been in years past, he’s shooting about 45% from 3 and nearly hit half of his shots from the field. In what could possibly be his 4th straight 20pt season, Thompson has the opportunity to accomplish a 50/40/90 for the year.

Previous Ranking: 3

2. DeMar DeRozan – Toronto Raptors

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After years of being known as a guard who can only play within 22 feet of the basket, DeRozan has picked up his shots attempted and accuracy from deep. Now shooting around 37% from 3 and nearly 50% on field goals, DeRozan is set to make his 4th All-Star appearance and has the Raptors looking solid as a top 3 team in the East alongside backcourt partner Kyle Lowry.

Previous Ranking: 2

1. James Harden – Houston Rockets

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Despite recently tearing part of his hamstring which will sideline him for a few weeks, Harden has once again began his MVP campaign very early in the season. Averaging a whopping 30+ points a game to go along with around 9 assists, the superstar is leading a Rockets team to a presumed top 2 seed in the West. With a new star to help him out in Houston, Chris Paul, Harden and the Rockets look to be the only team in the league right now that honestly stands a fair chance against the Golden State Warriors in a seven game series.